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No. 606,9". Patented July 5, I898. C. F. BIELE.

SHOW CASE. (Application filed Sept. 13, 1897.) (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet l.

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SHOW CASE.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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N0. 606,9H. Patented Jul 5, I898.

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SHOW CASE.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES:

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CHARLES I. BIELE, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

SHOW-CA8 E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,911, dated July 5,1898. Application filed September 13, 1897. Serial No. 651,467. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it WMSLZ/ concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BIELE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved showcase of that class in whichthe front or side, end, and top glass plates are held together bymetallic corner-pieces, so that a very strong and durable show-case isobtained, in connection with interior shelf-b rackets su p ported bysaid corner-pieces; and the invention consists of a show-case comprisinga bottom having sheet-metal moldings for. receiving the front and endplates and the ways required for the sliding or hinged doors, interiorglazing-strips, corner-pieces, and fastenings for connecting theglazing-strips with the cornerpieces, said glazing-strips beingconstructed and arranged for receiving shelf-supporting brackets.

The invention consists, further, of certain details of construction ofthe show-case, doors, and other parts, which will be fully describedhereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective frontView of my improved show-case. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of thesame, showing it arranged with sliding doors. Fig. 3 is a Verticaltransverse section of the show-case. Fig. 4is also a vertical transversesection showing the show-case constructed with hinged'glass doorsinstead of sliding doors. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of theshow-case, showing the connection of the glass walls with the hingedrear door. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail horizontal sections of portions ofthe sliding doors and case. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a portion of oneof the glazing-strips used for connecting the parts, and Figs. 9 and 10are elevations of another form of glazing-strip adapted for holdingsupporting-brackets thereon. Fig.

11 is a detail elevation of the bracket-supporting stay shown in Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bottom of my improvedshow-case, which is preferably made of wood, provided with edge moldingsof brass or other suitable sheet metal. The metal molding B at thebottom Ais grooved at the front and sides,so as to receive the lowerends of the glass plates that form the side and end walls B B,respectively, of the show-case. Theglass plates B B are connected at thecorners by means of upright cast-metal corner-pieces G, which areprovided with exterior angular face-strips O of brass or other sheetmetal, said cornerpieces 0 being applied to the glass plates by means ofinterior glazing-strips cl, which are provided with holes for theconnecting-screws d,by which the glazing-strips d are connected with thecorner-pieces C, so that glass plates are rigidly clamped in position,as shown in Fig. 5. The glazing-strips are provided with side flangesthat bind on the adjacent inner surfaces of the glass plates, so that inconnec tion with the face-strips O of the corner pieces the same arefirmly clamped. The top plate B is connected to the upper edges of theside and end glass plates in the same manner by means of cast-metalcorner-pieces 0, having exterior angular face-strips O, interiorglazing-strips cl, and connecting-screws d, as shown at the uppercorners of Figs. 3 and 4t.

The doors of my improved show-case may be made to slide, in which casethey are made in sections E, which are guided in sheet-metal ways E,arranged in the bottom and top moldings, which latter are reinforced bywrought-iron strips E, as shown in Fig. 3. The sliding-door sections arefaced on their inside with mirror-plates f, so as to hide the doors fromthe front of the show-case. When glass shelves'are to be arranged in thesame, they are preferably supported by headed screws in upright stays F,that are attached at their upper and lower ends, respectively, to thebottom A and to the guideways of the top, as shown in Fig. 3, theupright supporting-stays F being provided with slot-s f having enlargedupper ends for permitting the insertion of the headed screws of thebrackets F in the well-known manner. The brackets F support the glassshelves placed on the same. According to the size of the showcase anumber of upright slotted'supportingstays F are arranged at suitabledistances from each other, said strips stiffening at the same time theconstruction of the show-case and preventing the sagging of the rearmolding of the top intermediately between the supporting corner-pieces.

In place of the sliding doors made of wood and provided with interiormirror plates hinged glass doors II may sometimes be required. As theglass doors cannot be made in one piece for the full length of the case,several smaller doors are arranged, which are each provided withcast-metal edge strips that are hinged in a suitable manner respectivelyto the rear corner and intermediate pieces of the show-case, as shown inFig. 5. The hinged doors are locked by means of suitable locks L to therear corner and intermediate pieces. (See Fig. 5.) The face-strips ofthe rear corner-pieces are bent around the same and provided withinwardly-bent ledges 0 against which the hinged doors rest when inclosed position. In this case the bracket-strips F may be dispensedwith, as the intermediate pieces stiffen the case sufficiently, and inplace thereof may be used the vertical pieces provided with slots havingenlarged upper ends, as shown in Fig. 9, for attaching thesupporting-brackets for the shelves in the manner before described. Theglazing-strips are also used as supports for the shelf-supportingbrackets, which can be applied thereto at any suitable height, asrequired by the position of the shelves.

In some cases the connecting-screws between the glazing-strips andcorner-pieces may be made with eyes at their inner ends, so as todirectly receive shelfsupporting brackets. In this case ordinaryglazing-strips without slots may be employed.

My improved show-case has the advantage that being made almost entirelyof glass and metal, with the exception of the bottom, it is very strongand durable and can be shipped to any climate without being influencedby changes of temperature. B y the arrangement of the interiorbracket-supportin g arms glass shelves can be used in connection withthe case at any desired height above the bottom, as required by thespecial purpose for which the case is to he used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a show-case, the combination, with glass platesforming the walls and top of the same, of a corner-fastening for holdingsaid plates in position, consisting of a corner-piece arranged betweenthe contiguous edges of the plates, sheet-metal face-strips attached tosaid corner-piece and extending over the adjacentedges of said plates,interior sheet-metal glazing-strips provided with flanges adapted to bearagainst said plates, and fasteningbolts extending through the mainportion of said glazing-strips and connecting said strips with thecornerpieces so as to clamp said plates in position, substantially asset forth.

In a show-case, the combination of a bottom, glass plates forming theside walls and top of the case, corner-pieces arranged be tween thecontiguous edges of the plates, angular face-strips attached to saidcornerpieces and extending over the adjacent edges of said glass plates,interior glazing-strips provided with openings, and fastening screwboltsconnecting the glazing-strips with the corner-pieces and provided witheyes at their inner ends for receiving shelf-supporting brackets,substantially as set forth.

In a show-case, the combination, with the bottom of the case and glassplates forming the sides of the case, of sheet-metal edge moldingsattached to said bottom and extending over the adjacent edges of thesame, and forming at their upper portion a groove for receiving thelower edges of said plates, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. BIELE.

Vitnesses:

PAUL GoEPnL, Gno. L. lVHEELocK.

